Boss Emma will ‘waddle’ to Wembley final

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes: ‘It’s about the team. And, at the end of the day, I’m going to waddle out there’ PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

CHELSEA manager Emma Hayes has revealed she will be “waddling” to Wembley when her team take on Arsenal in the Women’s FA Cup final next month.

The former Parliament Hill School pupil won’t be leading the Blues out at the national stadium as she is expecting twins just weeks after the showpiece final.

Quizzed if she was upset about missing out on the moment, Hayes said: “I don’t mind. I’m a woman, I don’t have a big ego. It’s about the team. And, at the end of the day, I’m going to waddle out there.

“It will be uncomfortable for me. But it will be best for my baby’s health that I sit in the chair, chill out and let somebody else do that, and have that honour.

“Paul Green will be leading the team out at Wembley. I will be in the background, and it will be a fine day for him. He is the general manager, my trusted lieutenant.”

Chelsea kept their bid for a treble alive with a deserved 2-0 semi-final victory over Manchester City.

In-form forward Fran Kirby bagged both goals, taking advantage when England captain Steph Houghton misjudged a long ball to open the scoring after only six minutes, and racing clear and calmly slotting home after Jen Beattie’s similar error late in the second half.

Waiting for them at Wembley will be a confident Arsenal side, who reached their 16th FA Cup final courtesy of Louise Quinn’s stoppage-time header against Everton at Marine FC in Crosby, Merseyside.

Danielle Carter had put the visitors in front midway through the first half after latching on to Heather O’Reilly’s right-wing cross to coolly finish from six yards.

But a battling Everton side drew level shortly after the hour mark when former Gunner Chloe Kelly scored from the penalty spot after Dominique Janssen was harshly judged to have brought down Olivia Chance in the box.

With extra-time and even penalties looming, defender Quinn became the heroine of the semi-final when she nodded in from a corner, sending record 14-time winners Arsenal back to Wembley.

The capital clash takes place on Saturday, May 5, and is a 5.30pm kick-off.